After Charms class wrapped up, Hermione turned to Harry.
"Harry, do you think I should apologize to Ron? My temper hasn't been the best lately."
Hermione, now calmer, realized her words earlier had been quite impulsive.
"Hermione, don't you think those words were already on Ron's mind? There's no need for you to apologize first."
Despite Harry's comforting words, Hermione's logical side told her he was right, but she still felt a pang of guilt. She looked rather glum. Harry sighed, seeing her so conflicted, and tried to distract her.
"Instead of worrying about Ron, you should be fretting over Hagrid's paper."
Harry's suggestion certainly shifted Hermione's focus, but it only made her look even more downcast. "Harry, I'm genuinely worried if the paper will pass. What if—"
Harry mentally kicked himself. Why on earth did he bring up Hagrid on Halloween? He quickly said, "It'll be fine. Trust Hagrid."
Hermione remained preoccupied throughout the afternoon until Hedwig arrived with Hagrid's letter after their last class. The letter was a bit damp, but the handwriting was clear enough: the paper had been accepted, and the defense was scheduled for November. After reading the letter, Hermione finally brightened. She excitedly hugged Harry, her voice thick with emotion.
"Harry! Hagrid did it! I can't believe those words actually got through—"
Meanwhile, in the Defence Against the Dark Arts office, Quirrell lay groaning on the floor.
"Master, Master, I truly can't do it. The Philosopher's Stone is in Dumbledore's office—"
"Lies! Dumbledore hasn't been at the school this whole time!"
"But Snape is constantly watching me, I can't get close—Argh!!!"
"Crucio!"
Quirrell's body instantly contorted as if tied in knots.
Dumbledore, that cursed Lily Potter! If it weren't for them, why would I have to rely on this useless wretch? Thinking this, Voldemort increased the magical output.
"Argh!! Argh!! Master, I have a plan, I truly have a plan!" Quirrell wailed.
Voldemort ceased the Cruciatus Curse, listening indifferently.
"Hah...hah... On Halloween, Dumbledore and Snape will definitely be in the Great Hall..."
"But you also need to be in the Great Hall, or Dumbledore will surely grow suspicious!"
Fearing another Cruciatus, Quirrell spoke quickly. "I can catch a troll in the Forbidden Forest and release it in the castle's dungeons. They'll certainly go to investigate. Then I can enter the Headmaster's office."
Voldemort was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "This is your last chance. Do not disappoint me."
"Y-yes, Master, I-I won't dis-disappoint you," Quirrell stammered.
Feeling Voldemort slip into a deep sleep, Quirrell lay on the floor for a while longer before slowly getting to his feet.
That evening, in the Great Hall, a thousand bats fluttered about the walls and ceiling, and various pumpkin lanterns replaced the usual seating arrangements. Hermione looked absolutely delighted.
At the High Table, Hagrid was animatedly chatting with Dumbledore. Spotting Harry and Hermione, he quickly stood up and waved his arm. Not everyone had arrived yet, but the tables were already laden with food. Hermione eagerly pulled Harry down, declaring she would eat an entire roast goose.
Harry was midway through battling a half-eaten roast goose leg that Hermione had handed him when suddenly, a ghost burst into the Hall. The ghost flew frantically towards Dumbledore, stammering, "A troll! A troll is outside the Slytherin common room! Some young witches and wizards are trapped inside!"
Hearing this, Dumbledore quickly rose and cast a Sonorus Charm on himself.
"Quiet!" Dumbledore's deep voice cut through the clamor, and the Great Hall instantly fell silent. "Prefects, immediately take a headcount of your Houses. Student Body President, please maintain order. Professors are to safely bring back any young witches and wizards still outside the castle."
"It's Draco and Parkinson, they didn't come to the feast," Snape said, walking over with a grim expression.
"Draco, the feast is about to begin. Aren't you going to change?" Pansy looked at Draco, who was slumped in an armchair, with concern. He hadn't said a word since he'd returned that afternoon.
"Don't waste your breath, Draco isn't going to the feast, because of the 'Boy-Who-Lived' Potter—"
"Shut up!"
"You didn't tell Pansy? You followed Granger to the half-giant's hut this afternoon, and Potter found out—"
Seeing Draco pull out his wand and point it at him, Zabini quickly clamped his mouth shut.
The Slytherin common room quickly emptied, leaving only Draco and Pansy.
"Pansy, you go too. Just leave me alone for a bit." Draco felt a wave of humiliation remembering what had happened that afternoon.
Pansy had known Draco since they were small and knew that at times like this, he just wanted to be alone. She left, looking back three times.
Thump, thump, thump, Pansy suddenly ran back.
"Didn't I tell you to—" Draco said impatiently, but Pansy frantically cut him off.
"Draco, there's a troll outside the door!"
Dumbledore and Snape had left the Great Hall, and the students around them began discussing how a troll could have entered the castle. Hermione frowned, recalling that the direction the ghost mentioned led to the Slytherin common room. She quickly realized that some Slytherin students were trapped by the troll. A gut feeling told Hermione that Harry was somehow involved.
Harry was still wrestling with his roast goose leg when Hermione suddenly pulled it from his mouth.
"Harry, what did you do to Malfoy?"
Harry tried to snatch the goose leg back, but Hermione just looked at him with a serious expression.
"Nothing much, just gave him a tiny lesson. Young Master Malfoy probably felt quite ashamed, which is why he didn't come to the feast," Harry said nonchalantly. Seeing Hermione still frowning, Harry gave a mock French military salute. "You don't seriously think I let the troll in, do you? I can't exactly order those dim-witted magical creatures around."
Hermione wasn't easily deterred and continued to press him. "Weren't you at Quidditch practice this afternoon? How did you end up clashing with Malfoy again?"
"I was flying and saw Malfoy sneaking after you. I was worried he'd discover Norbert, so I gave Malfoy a Full Body-Bind Curse."
"Don't tell me you didn't un-Jinx him and just left him lying there!"
"That curse would only keep him down for an hour at most. Remember Neville was stuck with his legs locked all night once."
"Harry!"
"Relax, when practice ended, I checked, and Malfoy had already left."
Hermione was barely convinced by Harry, and she finally shoved the roast goose leg back into his mouth.
"Don't worry about Malfoy. Professor Dumbledore has already gone. Come, try this roast goose leg..." he mumbled indistinctly.